Elgar emphatic winner in singles

Vogeltown's Dean Elgar claimed his second Taranaki men's open singles bowls title in emphatic style at Paritutu on Saturday.

Elgar quickly found his rhythm and proved far too consistent, winning the final of the Auto City-sponsored event 21-8 over Inglewood's Gerry O'Sullivan, who was the defending champion.

Elgar won the first seven heads to lead 9-0 and while O'Sullivan replied with a two, three ends later Elgar was 15-2 ahead.

O'Sullivan won the next three ends to close the margin to 15-6, but Elgar's consistency continued to reap rewards and he comfortably closed out the match. It was his fourth Taranaki title all up.

Both semifinals were equally as one-sided. O'Sullivan was always in control in beating Ian Lowry (Rahotu) 21-10, while Elgar was a commanding 21-8 victor over John Gray (Fitzroy).

Alton's Grant Anderson claimed his fourth centre fours crown when he skipped his side of John Roberts, Mark Anderson and Bruce Phillips to victory in the South Taranaki Club-sponsored event at Hawera Park on Saturday.

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The side now has accumulated 62 Taranaki titles between them - Roberts has 17, Mark Anderson 13, Phillips 14 and Grant Anderson 18.

The Alton side made no race of the final, trouncing Hawera Park's Selwyn Lloyd, John Turner, Robert Hoskin and John Hall 21-2.

The opening exchanges between the two sides were relatively even, with Anderson leading 3-2 after four ends. But the all-round quality of Alton was too superior for Hall's lineup. The game was called off after just 13 of the scheduled 18 ends.

In the semifinals, Hall led from the outset in beating Ron Ranford (Nolantown) 22-9, while Anderson eased away 16-9 from Paritutu's Rodger Hassall.

Opunake and Paritutu I share the lead on 13 points after the three rounds in the Vospers-sponsored division one interclub competition at Paritutu on Saturday.

Inglewood is handily placed on 12 points, while both New Plymouth I and Lepperton are on nine points.

Bev Robinson got Opunake away well with three wins in the singles, while the pair of Kay Fleming and Wilma Crawford managed two wins and a draw. Paritutu's four, skipped by Cathy Andrews, also had two wins and a draw.

Lorraine Crofskey kept Inglewood in the hunt with three singles wins.

The North Island women's Clubs New Zealand tournament, which was held in Wanganui last week and involved 114 sides, turned into a Taranaki benefit.

For the fifth time in the 24-year history of the event, a Taranaki side claimed the title, with the honours going to Pauline Davy's Waitara T&C side of Dell Waters, Gaylene Riddle and Yvonne Harper. It was Harper's third tournament success.

In the final, the side upset Wendy Green's experienced Taupo team 26-11.

The New Plymouth Club provided both beaten semifinalists, Gloria Shaw and Mo Mawson, while Inglewood's Margaret McCallum defeated the 2009 national singles winner, Sue Wightman, to take out the plate.